Adidas is releasing the Samba OG in “Med Dark Khaki/Off-White/Gum” (stylecode JR0890), and somewhere, you can hear the conveyor belt quietly humming. The Samba has been less of a sneaker than a natural phenomenon for years now: new colors every season, and the same debate every season over whether it’s finally “over.” Spoiler: it isn’t, and this colorway shows why.
First, let’s allow the cynicism to do its thing. Adidas has turned the Samba into a cash cow of the kind other brands can only dream of. The number of colorways is impossible to keep track of by now, and most of them exist mainly for the sake of existing — variations on variations, designed to keep the machine running. Treating every new Samba as news is just free advertising.
Why this one is worth it
And yet. Every now and then, a version comes along that does the silhouette justice, and this khaki edition is one of them. The dark army green with off-white accents and the classic gum sole gives the shoe a more grown-up feel than the eternal black-and-white standard. This is the Samba for anyone who consciously skipped the first, second and third waves and now wants to get on board without looking like everyone else on the same patio. If your wardrobe is full of earth tones, this one will fit right in.
The price: the real differentiator
The nice thing about a model that’s everywhere is that retailers have to compete with one another. In the comparison tool, we’re currently seeing [sz_price_from stylecode=”JR0890″] as the lowest price, and — as is always the case with the Samba — the difference between retailers is significant. This isn’t a shoe you need to worry about missing out on; it’s a shoe you should shop around for. Anyone paying full price for a Samba simply hasn’t been paying attention.
A skeptic’s verdict
My verdict is mixed, as it always is with the Samba. As a cultural phenomenon, it’s been thoroughly overdone; as a shoe, it’s still simply good. Low-profile, timeless, comfortable enough for everyday wear, and in this color, forgiving enough for Dutch pavements. The hype hasn’t done the Samba any harm beyond making it available everywhere — and that’s something you can benefit from.
So no, this isn’t a release destined for the history books. It is, however, a sensible purchase at the right time. At [sz_price_from stylecode=”JR0890″] from the sharpest-priced retailer, you won’t need to deliberate for long. Compare prices, sizes and retailers on Solezilla; the conveyor belt will keep running anyway, but your wallet doesn’t have to hum along with it.